Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BURKET - As Ashley Davis, 17, was about to finish her junior year at Tippecanoe Valley High School, she discovered she was pregnant.
If it wasn't for the chance to continue her education at Burket Education Center's Alternative Program, she would have had to drop out of school. But Monday, she, along with Jamison Parker, were recognized by the Valley School Board for completing requirements for graduation from TVHS through the Education Center.
Davis told the school board when she found out she was pregnant, she decided Burket was her best chance at graduating. But during her pregnancy, she was told her baby would have complications. Because of the complications, she would have to miss classes. Burket allowed her to continue her education at her own rate.
At 9 days old, however, her baby died.
She thanked everyone who supported her along the way, saying that without the alternative education program at Burket, she strongly believes she would not have graduated.
Mark Wise, school board president, offered the school board's sympathy for Davis' loss, but said he was glad the school corporation could provide Davis with an education that fit her needs and hopes others will take advantage of the program.
With dips here and there, ISTEP+ scores at Tippecanoe Valley mostly have improved since the 1998-99 school year.
Grade 3 ISTEP English/Language arts score for 2004-05 was 75, compared to 76.4 for the state average. In 1998-99, the score was 58.4, compared to the state average of 68.8. Math for grade 3 was 77.6 this year, compared to the state average of 73.7. The math score in 1998-99 was 60.8.
Grade 6 scores this year were 68.3, English/Language Arts, compared to 71.5 for state average, and 45.9 in 1998-99. In math, Valley's score was 85 this year, compared to 75.4 state average and 49.3 in 1998-99.
For English/Language Arts, eighth graders at Valley scored 63.1, compared to 68.7 state average and down from the 65.8 score in 1998-99. In math, eighth graders scored 73.4, compared to the state average of 72.3, and up from the score of 58.2 in 1998-99.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved an upgrade to the middle school's technology lab for $48,295, with equipment from Synergistic Systems, by a vote of 4 to 1. Wise voted against the equipment.
• Approved a change to the middle school schedule, beginning with the 2005-06 school year, as requested by Earl Richter, principal.
By changing the junior high's schedule, students will receive math and language arts on a daily basis year round.
The current middle school schedule has four periods and the new one will have five.
• Approved the drivers' education fees/salaries to remain the same as last year, but increase the instructor fee to $22 per hour, a 50-cent increase.
The average per hour instructor pay at other area schools is $23 at Warsaw; $49.46 at Rochester; $20 at Whitko; $30.25 at Triton; $20 at Manchester; and $25 at North Miami.
• Approved Tom Cody and Ivy Lyers as assistant high school track coaches.
• Approved an overnight trip for the Business Professionals of America to compete in Indianapolis March 6-8.
• Heard about a potential change in scheduling at the high school. If changes are made, they will not be implemented until the 2006-07 school year.
Members of the school board are Mark Wise, Hal Hoffman, Rod Eaton, Bryan Murphy and David O'Brien.
Upcoming meetings include: 4:30 p.m., Feb. 21, high school; 7:30 p.m., March 14, Mentone elementary; and 7:30 p.m., April 18, middle school.
